Skip to content
City PM
  • Germany
  • France
  • Europe
  • Markets
  • Business
  • Opinion
  • DE
  • Germany
  • France
  • Europe
  • Markets
  • Business
  • Opinion
  • DE
Tuesday 15 September 2015 3:33 pm

Who will be the first of Jeremy Corbyn’s shadow cabinet to resign?

By: James Nickerson

Add as a preferred source on Google

It may only be three days since Jeremy Corbyn decisively won the Labour leadership election, and a day after his shadow cabinet was announced, but dividing lines are already being drawn by Corbyn’s new front bench.

New deputy leader Tom Watson has said there is “zero chance of a coup”, but having a new leader with such different policy ideas to many within the party is leading some to debate where the first rebellion will come from – and when. 

There appears to be some disagreement even within the shadow cabinet: it has been widely reported Chris Bryant, who has taken the role of shadow commons leaders, originally turned down the defence role because of disagreements with Corbyn on defence policy.

Read more: Jeremy Corbyn odds: Bookies' tips suggest Labour leader could last just 475 days in the job

So, just who is most likely to be first shadow minister to resign?

That would be shadow chancellor and would-be-overthrower of capitalism John McDonnell, according to Betway, at 11/4. He was followed by Corbyn's international development secretary Diane Abbott at 7/2. Leadership rival and shadow home secretary Andy Burnham follows at 11/2.

Lord Falconer might be the safest bet, given he’s offered at 20/1 – but all that could change soon, after he said today he would not stay in the shadow cabinet if the Labour leadership decided to campaign to leave the EU.

Read more: When did it start to look like Jeremy Corbyn might win?

In an interview with World at One, Falconer said: 

If the Labour Party adopts a position which says we might leave the EU and might argue against it then of course my position would become impossible at that point. But that's not the current position.

Meanwhile shadow foreign secretary Hilary Benn has issued a statement on Europe, saying Labour must not “walk away” from the EU.

And here was everyone thinking it was the Tories who would split over the European Union.

Share this article

  • Facebook
  • X
  • LinkedIn
  • WhatsApp
  • Email

Similarly tagged content:

Sections

  • News

Categories

  • Business
  • Politics

Trending Articles

  • James Watt offers to buy back Brewdog

  • Citroën 2CV returns as a £13,000 electric car, and the timing is no accident

  • Motsepe backed to succeed Fifa’s Infantino by South African minister

  • Brewdog owner shrugs off James Watt takeover bid

  • Finsbury lines up Games Workshop splurge using merger windfall

More from City PM

  • Starmer resigns as Prime Minister

    Politics
    Business conference attendees networking at a corporate event with banners and presentation screens in the background
  • British forces intercept Russian shadow fleet in Channel

    Politics
    The five warships will be built at BAE's flagship facility in Glasgow
  • On this day in 1940: Happy birthday Ken Clarke

    Opinion
    GettyImages 3261869 showcasing a significant moment in news, emphasizing key details relevant to the articles context.
  • What if Andy Burnham had become Labour leader in 2015?

    Opinion
    Andy Burnham campaigns to be Labour leader, 2015.
  • ‘Corbyn was spot on’: The radical MP shaping Burnham’s economic agenda

    Politics
    Miatta Fahnbulleh speaking at a conference podium with a backdrop of international flags and an attentive audience
  • Badenoch: City’s risk culture should be ‘championed’ to boost UK growth

    Politics
    Kemi Badenoch speaking at a podium during a press conference, addressing recent policy changes and business initiatives.
  • Starmer to give Burnham access to government

    Politics
    Keir Starmer standing near Number 10 Downing Street discussing political matters with media presence in the background
  • Starmer: I would make Andy Burnham a Cabinet minister

    Politics
    Keir Starmer speaking at a podium during a press conference, expressing determination and leadership in political discourse

City PM — European politics, business and analysis.

Europe

  • Germany
  • France
  • Europe
  • UK & Ireland

Topics

  • Business
  • Markets
  • AI
  • Technology
  • Opinion
  • Energy

More

  • Politics
  • Economics
  • Fintech
  • Legal
  • Sport
  • Life

Company

  • About City PM
  • Editorial Policy
  • Corrections
  • Contact
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
© 2026 City PM · Published by CityPM Media, Bahnhofstrasse 65, 8001 Zürich, Switzerland
About · Editorial Policy · Corrections · Contact · Privacy · Facebook